GLIMPSES OF THE PAST

objectives

To enable the students to understand the British reign in India learner gets the knowledge about some freedom fighters from the given text. To enable the students to write the events in order. The learner gets the knowledge to narrate the events in chronological order. The learner feels the love and respect for the country and patriots.

New words

Martyr : Person who undergoes death or suffering for his or her belief.Ex. Bhagat singh was a great martyr. Destiny: Power believed to control events.Man is the maker of his own destiny. Untouchability : Restrictions on touching.Ex. Untouchability is a sin against society. Misery: Great suffering .Ex. He is living in misery and want.

key points

It is the history of our country during 1757-1857. India was under British rule during this period. India princes were dethroned by the British East India Company. Indian people led a miserable life during this period in every field Many learned men gathered and together the people of India and told them to against the British raj. In 1857 , a revolt out broke and the consequence of the revolt paved the way to the first freedom fight against British rule in India.

VIDEO

summery

During 18th century, British east India Company was extending its power in worldwide. That time Indian princes were fighting each other. East India Company subdued Indian princes one by one. During the period of 1765 to 1836 India had to witness many incidents. Untouchability, child marriage and other social evils existed in Indian society. The people were superstitious also. The British imposed heavy taxes on farmers so that farmers had to abandon their fields. The east India Company’s law began to cripple Indian industries. Ram Mohan Roy, a learned person from Bengal understood what was wrong with this country. He was attracted by science and modern knowledge. He went to England and fight for the justice of India. But the British continued to oppress Indians. In 1818 they had passed regulation III, under it, an Indian could be jailed without trail in a court. During 1835-56 Thomas Macaulay suggested some change in Indian Education. They taught Indians their language. By 1856, British had conquered the whole India. Some Indian soldiers in east India Company were ill pleased with the attitude of East Indian Company. A soldier named Mangal Pandey attacked the adjutant of his regiment and executed. In 1857, a violent revolt was out broken. The rebellion spread wider. Many landlords lost their lands, because of the British policies . Many rulers like Begum Hazrat Mahal of Lucknow were bitter. Popular leaders like Maulvi Abenedulla of Faisabaad, Tantya Tope aroused the people of India to fight against British Raj.

presentation

short question answers

How did the Indians react to companies’conquest? Some Indians reacted the companies’ conquest as blessings and some of the Indians showed their dissatisfaction.What is REGULATION III? According to this British Rule, an Indian could be jailed without trial in a court.

textual question answers

Who is an artisan? Why do you think the thumbs of expert artisans were chopped off? An artisan is a person who is skilled in an applied art; a craftsman. The expert artisans of India worked so well that there was no parallel to their creation. The British feared that the goods which they were importing from their country to sell in India would not stand competition in quality with the goods produced by these expert Indian artisans. So to make them incapable of doing their work the British used to chop off the thumbs of artisans. Do you think the Indian princes were short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757? Indian princes were indeed short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757. They fought against each other and sought the help of the British. They could not see that this will eventually make the British most powerful. This happened and they had to suffer for their short-sightedness.How did the East India Company subdued the Indian princes? Indian princes were divided and fought one another. Very often they sought the help of East India Company to do so. As a result they became weak. By this divide and rule policy the Company subdued them all one by one.In what ways did the British officers exploit Indians? The British exploited Indians in several ways. They passed a resolution according to which an Indian could be jailed without trial in a court. British goods were imported in India tax-free. The English prospered on the company’s loot while the Indian industries began to die. Even the British Governor-General Bentinck reported to England, “The bones of cotton weavers are bleaching the plains of India.”Name these people. (i) The ruler who fought pitched battles against the British and died fighting(ii) The person who wanted to reform the society. (iii) The person who recommended the introduction of English education in India. (iv) The popular leaders who led the revolt. Answer: (i) Tipu Sultan (ii) Raja Ram Mohan Roy (iii) Lord Macaulay (iv) Nana Sahib Peshwa, Kunwar Singh, Tatya Tope.Mention the following. (i) Two examples of social practices prevailing then. (ii) Two oppressive policies of the British. (iii) Two ways in which common people suffered. (iv) Four reasons for the discontent that led to the 1857 war of independence. Answer: (i) Untouchability and child marriage (ii) (1) The British passed a resolution according to which an Indian could be jailed without trial in a court. (2) The British supported the British industries. To do so they made imports of British goods to this country tax-free as a result of which the Indian industries started to die. (iii) (1) The British did not care about the needs and feelings of Indians. (2) The farmers were heavily taxed and the thumbs of the artisans were chopped off. (iv) (1) Santhals had lost their lands. They became desperate and started to revolt against British and kill them as well as their supporters. (2) The salaries of the British soldiers and the Indian soldiers were not at par. This caused a lot of discontentment among the Indian soldiers. (3) Hazrat Mahal of Lucknow was bitter as she had lost her kingdom to British. (4) Many landlords were sore. They had lost their lands because of the British policies.

homework

Collect biographies of some Freedom fighters in India. Learn more about the condition of Indians under British rule.